The person going to a hearing should be sure that all the relevant medical records are submitted to the judge. An attempt should be made to get a specialized form letter from the most important doctors who have treated the applicant. It is often helpful to have a witness in addition to the person applying. This is someone who sees the applicant frequently and who can testify as to the physical or mental problems the person applying has. It is always right (as the applicant is testifying under oath) and virtually always smart to be truthful at the hearing. It is almost impossible for a person to win at the hearing if the judge decides the person is a liar because so often the hearing decision turns on whether the judge believe such symptoms as pain, fatigue or depression which cannot really be accurately seen or measured.

Of course ideally the person applying has a lawyer or representative who is familiar with the social security regulations and knows how to cross examing the social security doctors and vocational rehabilitation specialists who frequently testify at the hearings.